Acknowledging that young people often glorify athletes, Michigan State’s Chris Hill embraces his responsibility as a role model.
By Crystal L. Keels
Chris Hill
2005 Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year
School: Michigan State University
Year: Senior
Major: Finance
Cumulative GPA: 3.7
Fall 2004 GPA: 3.5
Sport: Basketball
It was “the unbelievable family atmosphere” that drew Chris Hill to Michigan State University’s basketball program. And it has proven to be a good fit for the 6’3″ Spartan guard. In his senior season, he has helped his team return to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament.
In his first year, Hill became the team’s second leading scorer, led his squad in three-point field goals, ranked second in assists and was the co-recipient of the MSU Unsung Player Award, as well as the recipient of the MSU Provost Award as freshman student-athlete of the year.
In subsequent years, Hill was a member of the 2003 USA Basketball Pan-American Games team and has earned various awards, including MSU MVP, Big Ten Player of the Week, 2003 Verizon Academic All-America Third-Team honoree and All-District First Team. Hill was also named a 2004 First-Team Academic All-American, the first MSU player since Greg Kelser in 1979 to be so recognized. And just prior to being named the Male Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year, Hill shared the MSU Athlete of the Year award with teammate Drew Naymick. He was also presented with an MSU Captain’s award and was named the ESPN The Magazine 2005 Academic All-American of the Year.
“To get recognized as the top athlete was pretty amazing,” Hill says.
Also amazing — but not surprising — is the degree to which Hill’s performance on the MSU basketball team has been matched by his accomplishments in the classroom. He holds a 3.75 cumulative grade-point average and a stellar academic record. The importance of both athletics and academics was always something his parents imparted to him, he says. 
